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SOE renames Fan Faire, sets official dates

Jef Reahard — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

As corporate re-brandings go, this one isn't as wince-inducingly awful as something like, say, the Syfy Channel. Still, Sony Online Entertainment's Fan Faire had a nice ring to it, but now we're obliged to refer to the company's annual fan convention as SOE Live.

Senior marketing VP Laura Naviaux says the change is due to SOE's MMO diversification. While the company is still known for its EverQuest and EverQuest II flagships, it's also put considerable time and effort into DC Universe Online and PlanetSide 2, neither of which conjures images of ye olde renaissance faire.

This year's SOE Live will happen at Bally's in Las Vegas from October 18th through the 21st. Naviaux says that SOE die-hards can relax, since the event will be the same Fan Faire they've been enjoying for years despite the name change. "Previous event attendees can rest assured that we are not removing any of our established activities in order to accommodate the new players; rather, they can expect even more to make this the ultimate SOE fan experience," she said.

[Source: SOE press release]

SOE renames Fan Faire, sets official dates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE's Fan Faire 2012 moving to the Fall

Jef Reahard — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items

It's never too early to start planning for next year's convention season, and Sony Online Entertainment has announced that its annual Fan Faire get-together is vacating its traditional summer slot starting in 2012. SOE's Las Vegas shindig will move to the Fall, and the company is currently offering up a public vote to determine the exact dates.

Participants can select between the weekends of September 13th through September 16th, September 27th through September 30th, or October 18th through October 21st.

In a post on SOE's official boards, Linda "Brasse" Carlson explains that the bump is mostly due to the availability of the venue, which in turn keeps costs down and enables SOE to continue hosting the fan-friendly event.

SOE's Fan Faire 2012 moving to the Fall originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Have you ever dressed up as a game character?

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Culture, Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind

What to wear... what to wear....

With various conventions like SOE's Fan Faire and DragonCon offering contests with prizes and at least a few minutes of fame, it's no wonder some people harness their creativity and pull out all the stops to create a costume. After all, you love your game, so why not be a part of it? From Ratonga to superheroes, player avatars to mobs, there seems to be no shortage of costume ideas and cosplayers strutting their stuff. Some ideas are elaborate and some are a bit less involved.

But really, who needs a reason?! Whether for an actual event, just for your office party, or just in the safety of your own home (with friends carefully sneaking YouTube videos), have you ever dressed up as a character in a game? Which one? Fess up!

If you haven't yet, have you considered it? And who/what would you be?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Have you ever dressed up as a game character? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Fan Faire knowns and unknowns

Karen Bryan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

As we inch closer to Fan Faire, speculation begins to mount about what news EverQuest II fans will finally get to hear. Last year, players were smarting from the announcement of EQII Extended, the free-to-play server, and it seemed to deflate the mood among EQII Fan Faire attendees. This year, EQII is full of knowns and unknowns, to borrow a phrase from former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. We have known knowns, which are things that we know we know. And then there are known unknowns, or things that we know but we actually don't know. Lastly, there are unknown unknowns, which are things that we don't know we don't know. That's where things are in EQII currently. Confused? Me too! This week's Tattered Notebook will look at what we know and what we hope to find out more about at this year's Fan Faire.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Fan Faire knowns and unknowns

The Tattered Notebook: Fan Faire knowns and unknowns originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlanetSide Next to be unveiled at SOE Fan Faire

Matt Daniel — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, News items, MMOFPS

Even eight years after its launch, Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide still retains a healthy (and borderline fanatical) playerbase. This is almost certainly owed largely to the fact that PlanetSide remains one of the scant few MMOFPS games on the market. PlanetSide players, though, have been thirsting for more for quite some time. Thankfully, it appears the wait will soon be over.

Rumors have been flying for what seems like ages alongside a few sparse screenshots, but PlanetSide Next will soon be officially unveiled at the upcoming SOE Fan Faire this July. John Smedley, President of SOE, announced on his Twitter, "For all you PlanetSide Next fans, stay tuned for a big announcement at our upcoming Fan Faire in Vegas!" You heard the man! Keep your weapons in their holsters for just a while longer and keep an eye on Massively because we'll be sure to have all the freshest information as soon as it's out.

PlanetSide Next to be unveiled at SOE Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Online Entertainment announces Backstage Blogger contest

Matt Daniel — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, News items, Miscellaneous

Are you a blogger? Do you want to go to the Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire this year? Then you should enter SOE's Backstage Blogger contest! The rules are simple: Make a video or written blog to show the SOE team how much you adore your favorite SOE title(s) and send it in! A panel of judges will rate the submissions and select four lucky winners from the pool of applicants.

Those four fortunate folks will be awarded an all-access pass to the Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire as well as a Sony Bloggie Touch Camera Kit and the ability to publish their posts from the convention on the SOE Station Blog for the duration of the Fan Faire. If you think you've got a shot at the prize, then head on over to the official forum post for the full set of rules and policies. Good luck, readers!

Sony Online Entertainment announces Backstage Blogger contest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE Fan Faire site back up, early-bird pricing extended

Matt Daniel — Fri, 20 May 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, News items, Miscellaneous

Following the chaos of the PSN breach, the Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire website is now back up. To sweeten the deal for their fans, Sony has extended early-bird pricing until May 31, allowing attendees to get an all-access pass -- usually $129 -- for the discounted price of $119. The all-access pass includes all of the perks of the standard day-passes plus a copy of the most recent expansions for both EverQuest and EverQuest II, unique in-game items for SOE titles, and access to evening events for those of drinking age.

The Fan Faire itself is a gathering to celebrate all things SOE. Prominent faces from SOE will be hosting panels to give players and fans a look behind-the-scenes at their favorite games. It's also an excellent opportunity to schedule a meet-up with your in-game friends and to get together in a friendly, exciting environment. If you're interested in attending, registration is open at the official site.

SOE Fan Faire site back up, early-bird pricing extended originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: How not to sell an expansion

Karen Bryan — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Opinion, The Tattered Notebook

One month.

That's all that's left before EverQuest II's new expansion, Destiny of Velious, goes live. I've been looking forward to this expansion since 2009, when rumors first emerged that there was some work on Velious content quietly going on. It's my favorite content from EverQuest, and it really marked a Golden Age for those who look back fondly at the game.

But with one month left, I'm left feeling frustrated and concerned. There's just too much silence about the expansion and too many questions left unanswered. Read on to see why the blank slate of Destiny of Velious is a troublesome sign for players.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: How not to sell an expansion

The Tattered Notebook: How not to sell an expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

It is, in many ways, the ultimate gamer's pilgrimage -- to make the long trek to attend a gaming convention. Whether it be PAX, Dragon*Con, Fan Faire, BlizzCon, Leipzig or GamesCom, it's surprising the amount of money, time, effort and willingness to stand in line with sweaty people that we put up with just to see the latest games and talk to our favorite developers.

It's hard to explain the allure of these conventions to outsiders, but there's something thrilling in seeing crowds of people who share your same hobby and get excited over all the same stuff you do. Plus, there's the swag. OH, the swag!

Did you make your pilgrimage in 2010? Did you manage to get away to a fabulous retreat (from reality) and attend a game convention? And was it everything you'd hoped, or did it let you down?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Did you go to a game convention last year? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Destiny of Velious details announced for EverQuest II

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, real-world, Expansions, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

This year's Fan Faire has been kind to fans of EverQuest II and EverQuest, with the announcement of new expansions and a mysterious further project for the franchise. The fine team at The EQ2 Wire sat in on a discussion of all of the new features and details of the upcoming expansion, Destiny of Velious, and they transcribed their notes from the event. While the notes are a bit disjointed, they should give players quite a bit to look forward to and a number of tidbits to munch on.

If there has to be a downside, it's likely the fact that the Othmir will not be added as a playable race -- in fact, no race will be added to the playable roster. But there's a lot for fans to mull over even with the questions that the team declined to answer. Most interesting is that the expansion's release will be split into two parts, with part two possibly coming via update rather than a separate release. There are also plans for flying mounts in every overland zone of the game, rather than the "some" that was announced earlier. EverQuest II players should promptly take a look at the latest news, as it's going to be an interesting ride.

Destiny of Velious details announced for EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE announces Backstage Blogger contest

Jef Reahard — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, Events, real-world, News items

Want to see your name in lights, as well as take a peek behind the curtain at Sony Online Entertainment's annual Fan Faire convention? You're in luck, because SOE wants you (and three other guest bloggers) to record your experiences from the event that's happening August 5th - 8th in Las Vegas.

Contest winners will be awarded a Sony bloggie Camera Kit, a Fan Faire Platinum Pass, and access to post both written and video entries on the official Station blog throughout the event.

Submissions will be accepted from June 16th to July 1st, and should show how much you love your favorite SOE titles. Written and video format entries are acceptable, so be sure to check out the full contest details at the official site.

SOE announces Backstage Blogger contest originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Online Entertainment announces EverQuest server merges

Rubi Bayer — Sun, 23 May 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, News items

If you've felt like the population in EverQuest was on the low side lately, you can expect that problem to disappear within the next month or so. Sony Online Entertainment will be gradually cutting the number of servers in half beginning June 22nd. They'll complete the process by July 6th, leaving ten servers in place of the original twenty.

It's a big undertaking, and SOE have done some detailed planning ahead. The forum announcement contains the list of planned mergers, answers to common questions, and important information about the deletion of inactive characters and shared banks. They are further easing the transition by offering one free server transfer for all affected characters as well as discounts on race, gender, and name changes.

If you've got characters in EverQuest -- active or inactive -- these server merges are very likely going to affect you. Head over to the EQ forums and read the full announcement for all the details.

Sony Online Entertainment announces EverQuest server merges originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Highlights from the SOE Fan Faire 2009 community address

James Egan — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Free-to-play, Casual, Free Realms

Sony Online Entertainment Fan Faire 2009 is happening in Las Vegas, and of course they've had a number of things to unveil so far. SOE president John Smedley gave his community address last evening, and other speakers made an appearance as well. We've got a few highlights from SOE Fan Faire 2009 for you:

Station Cash

Smedley jumped right in by talking about the state of the SOE game lineup and some of the new directions they've explored with them in this past year. One of those new directions has been the introduction of Station Cash, and he talked about the growing adoption of Station Cash among SOE game subscribers in EverQuest and EverQuest II, as well as how it will soon be tied into new services and customization options. He announced a partnership with Hewlett-Packard which will allow players to purchase matte print images of art from the games using Station Cash. You'll be able to have your own character rendered in a high-quality art print, or even have your entire guild depicted and sent to you as a hardcopy art book.

EverQuest: Underfoot and EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate

On the topic of EverQuest, remember that mention we had of SOE trademarking new EQ properties? It turns out these are the new expansions: EverQuest: Underfoot and EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate. Smedley kicked off the EQ announcements by reflecting back on 10 years of EverQuest and looking to where the IP is headed in the future. EverQuest II producer Alan "Brenlo" Crosby discussed the game's sixth expansion, Sentinel's Fate, where players will travel to the land of Odus and see what's happened there since The Shattering.

He dropped a few details about this next expansion, slated for a February 2010 launch, and the updates they plan to release between now and Sentinel's Fate. These updates will include the ability to downtier characters, allowing you to go back and replay older content, plus achievements are coming to EverQuest II. In addition, the EQ II level cap will increase by ten levels.

SOE hasn't forgotten about their long-term fans either, those who have stuck with the original EverQuest through the years. EverQuest producer Thomas Terrazas announced the sixteenth EQ expansion, Underfoot, which will launch in November 2009. Underfoot will feature 12-15 zones at launch, with bonus zones and additional content to release in April of 2010. Underfoot will have twice as many weapons as any of the previous 15 expansions, a new focus targeting window (allowing you to add specific targets to your list, monitor health of friends and foes), and achievement tracking that will help players remain aware of the objectives to be completed in their progression path. "In other words," Terrazas said, "you won't have to go looking online on somebody else's website so see what you need. It'll be in-game."

Fan Faire 2009 attendees will get both expansions for free.

Continue reading Highlights from the SOE Fan Faire 2009 community address

Highlights from the SOE Fan Faire 2009 community address originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE's 3rd annual Community Address to be broadcast live this Friday night

William Dobson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, EverQuest, EverQuest II, PlanetSide, Events, real-world, MMO industry, The Agency, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures, Free Realms, DC Universe Online

Not being able to attend this year's SOE Fan Faire doesn't mean that you'll miss out entirely. Aside from the biggest news that we'll undoubtedly bring to your attention right here on Massively, you will actually be able to watch SOE CEO John Smedley's community address streaming live on Friday the 26th of June, at 7:00PM PDT. Although visiting the link for the event right now seems to prompt us to register, Amnerys' post on the EverQuest forums says that this isn't necessary: "You don't need to register or have a password! Just visit the page and view!"

This will be the third year of SOE's annual community addresses. To get an idea of what to expect this Friday, you can check out the presentation from Fan Faire 2007 on Youtube. The link to keep bookmarked for the live event is this one right here.

SOE's 3rd annual Community Address to be broadcast live this Friday night originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE trademark filings hint at new EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions

James Egan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Expansions, MMO industry

Sony Online Entertainment's fantasy MMOs EverQuest and EverQuest II may be due for new expansions if what Kody over at Curse has unearthed holds true. SOE has filed trademarks for two new EQ properties with the US Patent and Trademark Office. They are EverQuest: Underfoot and EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate.

It's a good find, but more of a tease than anything right now as no further details are available about either expansion. As Curse notes though, SOE Fan Faire is very close, just over a week away, and an announcement could be made then.

Have a look at what Kody has to say about the potential for new EverQuest expansions in his post at Curse.

SOE trademark filings hint at new EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire

William Dobson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, EverQuest, Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items

We don't doubt that many of our readers first got their feet wet in the world of MMOs with EverQuest, a game that gave rise to addictions so severe that it was often referred to as "EverCrack" by its loyal fans. It's these folks (this blogger amongst them) that will likely get the most enjoyment out of a new documentary called EverCracked! The Phenomenom of EverQuest that is set to debut at SOE Fan Faire 2009 later this month.

The documentary is hosted by Jason "Jace" Hall (of the Jace Hall Show) and features interviews not only with some of the main brains behind the game, but also with another very important group of people -- the players. We aren't sure yet when those who aren't visiting Fan Faire will be able to see it, but for now, check after the break for a preview trailer.

Continue reading "EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire

"EverCracked! The Phenomenon of EverQuest" to debut at SOE Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get a sneak peek at SOE Fan Faire '09's in-game items

William Dobson — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Events, real-world, The Matrix Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Free Realms, Legends of Norrath

E3 may be the show on everyone's minds right now, but SOE is doing what they can to make sure that people don't forget that they have their very own event later in the month. They've put up a preview of some of the digital schwag that attendees will receive for coming to SOE Fan Faire 2009, and the new rule this year is that you'lll be able to get one in-game item for each game you have an active account for -- no need to choose just one anymore.

The preview has pictures and some details about the items, and there's one in particular that will probably get the most attention: the Dianoga Dumpster for Star Wars Galaxies players will spit up collection items if fed once a week for a month, and besides that, it just looks kinda cool. Other neat items include a statue of Firiona Vie for EverQuest II, and a flying dragon mount for Vanguard, although, that one might divide people due to its bright pinkish-purple color. Registration for the fan faire is still open, so if you simply must have a pink dragon, now's the time to book.

Get a sneak peek at SOE Fan Faire '09's in-game items originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New EQII site features live in-game data

William Dobson — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Launches, Tips and tricks

With the help of SOE, Zam has launched their new EverQuest II site, which boasts an impressive set of features. The site draws a lot of its information directly from the game data itself now -- you really can't get much more accurate than that. It's pretty safe to say that we know where we'll be heading next time we're hunting down an elusive quest mob in EQII. Here's a list of some of what's on offer:

A live Broker feed that allows you to track sales, items, and their pricing data across all servers

Loc's and other detailed information on every mob

Drop information of every item, including drop tables with exact percentages

Quest data from the game

Complete recipe information

The site overhaul is being celebrated with a contest, offering daily giveaways and a grand prize of four tickets to the SOE Fan Faire. To enter, visitors must create an account and contribute to the wiki, the forums, or the various comment sections, with each contribution granting one entry into the draw. That sure sounds like a recipe for some spam-tastic action, but we don't doubt that the folks at Zam are ready and waiting with ban-hammers drawn.

New EQII site features live in-game data originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE launches 2009 Player of the Year contest

William Dobson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, PlanetSide, Contests, The Matrix Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures

SOE is searching for their two biggest fans, and plans to reward their loyalty with a trip to the SOE Fan Faire in Las Vegas later this year. It would be pretty difficult to work out who the biggest fanboys or girls are without any input from the community, so it's up to the players to nominate suitable candidates -- and yes, you can nominate yourself. What qualities should you be looking for in potential Players of the Year? From SOE:

"Do you know someone who is the poster child for your favorite SOE title? So dedicated to the game, he or she walks around with bloodshot eyes, sleep deprived, wearing his or her favorite wrinkled SOE T-shirt? Does this player stand out as the first person to go beyond the call of duty to help fellow community gamers in and out of the game? If so, you may have the perfect candidate, and we want to know more!"

To submit a nomination, send an email to SOEContests AT soe.sony.com with a 300 word letter or role-playing story explaining the worthiness of the player in question; a link to a screenshot, video or artwork can be included. The contest is already underway and closes at midnight PST on the 10th of May, and the nominee must be a US resident and 21 years of age or older. Full competition details can be found here.

SOE launches 2009 Player of the Year contest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fan Faire attendees get Free Realms beta access right now

Lesley Smith — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, real-world, Forums, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Kids

Did you head to Las Vegas last August for SOE's annual Fan Faire event? You did? Well this is your lucky day! SOE CM Ashlanne has announced via the offical forums that all attendees of last year's event have access to the Free Realms beta as of, well, now!

So what exactly are you waiting for, you lucky people? Your Station ID should have been automatically upgraded so all you need to do is visit the official site and click on existing user. If however you find yourself having problems, Ashlanne asks that you post in the thread on the official forums so they can check the listings and get the account upgraded 'in a jiff'.

Fan Faire attendees get Free Realms beta access right now originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How's EQ2 treatin' ya?

Samuel Axon — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Opinion, The Daily Grind

A while back we checked in with players of The Lord of the Rings Online to see how their experiences were going. Most responses were positive, with a few folks saying they had quit due to boredom. Now we'd like to check in another game -- this one a little older. EverQuest II went head to head with World of Warcraft. It's clear that if we're just counting subscribers, WoW is the winner. But maybe quality trumps quantity.

So how is the quality of one of the world's only surviving MMO sequels these days? SOE has certainly had time to refine the game. There have been four expansions to date, with another one coming up very soon. Do you go to the Fan Faires? Do you already have four level 80s? Will the mid-level experience boost bring you back for more?

Tell us: how's EQ2 treatin' ya?

The Daily Grind: How's EQ2 treatin' ya? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE 2008 Fan Faire schedule released

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Events, real-world, MMO industry

If you plan to attend the SOE Fan Faire in Las Vegas this year, you may be happy to hear that the schedule of events has been released. Spanning from Thursday, August 14th through Sunday, August 17th, this schedule highlights some of the largest events of the convention with more details for each. At this time, not all of the slots have detailed descriptions or exact times, but as the big day approaches, you can regularly check back for more info.

Some of the announced events at this time include a silent auction for SOE merchandise, the annual community address from John Smedley, behind-the-scenes discussion panels with SOE devs, live entertainment and more. Don't forget to bring a photo ID for registration, and walk-ins are welcome!

SOE 2008 Fan Faire schedule released originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Planning to attend any conventions?

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind

Tis the season to be traveling! As the summer ramps up, more and more companies are planning different outings and fan events. Blizzard has announced that not only will they have their (now sold-out) Worldwide Invitational in Paris, but also will be hosting another Blizzcon this October. Sony Online Entertainment has announced the next in a long line of highly successful Fan Faires coming to Vegas this August. CCP is expected to host yet another "party at the top of the world" as their EVE Online fan fair returns this year. Funcom will have a great showing as part of the MMO track at Dragon*Con where they've been partying with fans for years. And who can forget all the gaming goodness that goes on at PAX, GenCon, and other related conventions happening all around the world!

For today's Daily Grind, we thought we'd ask you what kind of plans you have for traveling this year? Are there any conventions that are absolutely must-see events for you? Which events, if any, are you excited to check out? And if it's a general event like Dragon*Con or PAX, what are your "must see" games while you're there?

The Daily Grind: Planning to attend any conventions? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SOE Fan Faire 2008 registration now open

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Browser

Last month we announced that this year's SOE Fan Faire will be returning to Las Vegas, NV in August, but now we're excited to announce that registration is open! Day passes start at $39 USD, but they give you plenty of motivation for upgrading to the All-Access pass for $89 USD. With this pass, you will:

Receive an invitation to participate in the upcoming Free Realms Beta test!
Receive an invitation to participate in the upcoming EverQuest II Expansion Beta test!
Attend the 2nd Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley.
Attend lots of social activities, including a Kickoff Reception, a Grand Banquet, a Costume Contest and an offsite VIP Party with lots of fun, games and live entertainment!
Encourage Guild mates to pre-register online! Guilds who pre-register groups of 10 or more attendees for the All-Access pass online will receive 50% off the All-Access admission fee. (Offer does not apply to walk-in or day-pass registrants.)
Play live demos of SOE's upcoming titles.
Receive gifts and in-game items.

SOE Fan Faire 2008 registration now open originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Help with panel suggestions for SOE Fan Faire

William Dobson — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Opinion

Over at the EQ developer blog, your help is needed. EverQuest senior producer Clint Worley has made a post asking for suggestions on panels for SOE's Fan Faire, to be held in August. He mentions that things like spells and content are normally covered, but he is hoping that some of the people attending will have interesting ideas for other panels to throw in the hat.

Even if you're not planning on attending, it's worth sharing any cool suggestions that you might have, as the news from these events is usually covered by your favorite sites anyway. Visit the dev blog to add your ideas to the growing list.

Help with panel suggestions for SOE Fan Faire originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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